Abhisit Vejjajiva Elected New Prime Minister Of Thailand

[Ricardo]

Please keep in mind that toursim was already down because the sordwide economical crisis. in the long run the occupation of the airport for week has very limited effects on the long run in tourisn and trade.

Do you think the closing of the GM plant in Ranong has anything to do with the occupation of the airports?

Agreed, it has much more to do with the world-wide down-turn, and quite a lot to do with the recent policy of the BoT to maintain a Strong-Baht policy, against the best interests of tourism & exporters and the workers formerly employed in those industries.

One might hope that the Democratic Party might try hard, over the next few weeks, to get this message across to the people who are/will-be affected, so that the blame rightly lands on ex-PM Somchai and his self-acknowledged Thaksin-nominee PPP-government.

Why did they pursue this damaging policy to the bitter end ? Hopefully it will now swiftly be abandoned, in whatever face-saving fashion can be devised, by Abhisit.

Thanks for all the responses to this.

Please note that I didn't, and certainly wouldn't, claim that the PAD closing Swampy was irrelevant, just that the tourism down-turn was already in-progress anyway. The PAD action just made it worse ... especially in the short-term obviously.

I myself ran two UK-tourism businesses profitably through a series of similar disasters, the Y2K-Bug, the Twin-Towers terrorist-attack, Foot-and-Mouth disease, SARS, Bird-Flu, an oil-refinery blockade and numerous port/ferry-closures, but the worst long-term problem was definitely the one caused by the relatively-overstrong Pound over several years. That's where I see Thailand as now being.

I would add that, in 5 pages of posts, nobody has yet disagreed with my posted-opinion above, that the policy of the BoT to have a Strong-Baht has been harming tourism and exporters for some time, and that the previous government should bear the responsibility for this, when the workers turn up only to find the factory-gates locked.

[jbowman1993]

Oh dear, didn't take long for Democrats to put their foot in it!

"You see, people in the north-east are employees of people in Bangkok," he said. "My servants are from the northeast. Gas station attendants in Bangkok are from the northeast."

Yet, his words summed up a shortcoming of the Democrats that many analysts are pointing out makes it unelectable on its own: it is a party of Bangkok elites.

I would love to hear the audio to that quote, as if that is a credible quote that speaks volumes to the type of leader he will be.

Abhisit didn't say this.

The words come from a utter fool under the circumstances.

MP Charoen Kanthawongs, a lawyer with the prominent firm Tilleke and Gibbins

I am sure Abhisit wanted to sew this guys mouth shut , ASAP.

It's unfortunate that Sondhi doesn't own the Straits Times. Then his mouth would have effectively been shut!

This is what they think. It really is and I know a few PAD on here are slow, but surely they must be starting to sense that something is wrong now. Either with their own thinking or possibly the worlds media and the majority of Thais (outside the Army and Elite and ASTV).

Do you really think that you, SRJohn JD(inabsentia these days)INasia, H90 and a few more have hit on something that the rest of the world has missed?

Pehaps you are right. Time will tell.

Hey! You darn kids, get off my lawn!!!

[animatic]

Please keep in mind that toursim was already down because the sordwide economical crisis. in the long run the occupation of the airport for week has very limited effects on the long run in tourisn and trade.

Do you think the closing of the GM plant in Ranong has anything to do with the occupation of the airports?

Agreed, it has much more to do with the world-wide down-turn, and quite a lot to do with the recent policy of the BoT to maintain a Strong-Baht policy, against the best interests of tourism & exporters and the workers formerly employed in those industries.

One might hope that the Democratic Party might try hard, over the next few weeks, to get this message across to the people who are/will-be affected, so that the blame rightly lands on ex-PM Somchai and his self-acknowledged Thaksin-nominee PPP-government.

Why did they pursue this damaging policy to the bitter end ? Hopefully it will now swiftly be abandoned, in whatever face-saving fashion can be devised, by Abhisit.

Thanks for all the responses to this.

Please note that I didn't, and certainly wouldn't, claim that the PAD closing Swampy was irrelevant, just that the tourism down-turn was already in-progress anyway. The PAD action just made it worse ... especially in the short-term obviously.

I myself ran two UK-tourism businesses profitably through a series of similar disasters, the Y2K-Bug, the Twin-Towers terrorist-attack, Foot-and-Mouth disease, SARS, Bird-Flu, an oil-refinery blockade and numerous port/ferry-closures, but the worst long-term problem was definitely the one caused by the relatively-overstrong Pound over several years. That's where I see Thailand as now being.

I would add that, in 5 pages of posts, nobody has yet disagreed with my posted-opinion above, that the policy of the BoT to have a Strong-Baht has been harming tourism and exporters for some time, and that the previous government should bear the responsibility for this, when the workers turn up only to find the factory-gates locked.

Oh no argument on the too strong baht,

Can't sell what people can afford to pay for.

[sriracha john]

Can't see the "red shirts" having anywhere as much opportunity to create chaos on the streets of Bangkok as their yellow shirted cousins.

My post was 17 seconds too late.

Can't quite see the point you're making with this post, SJ. Or why you filleted thailandjunkie's post by editing out his second sentence. Naturally, these protestors are not going to be given the carte blanche given to PAD.

I responded to a specific point in his post. Nothing to do with filleting.

The point being that if taxi drivers are showing up and rallying in mass... and if the UDD have set up an entire stage for speakers, etc., at Democrat Headquarters, then certainly there is an equal "opportunity to create chaos on the streets of Bangkok."

Additionally, thus far, there haven't been any arrests in the brick-throwing, windshield-smashing, and alleged acid-tossing events of the post-Parliament PM election. That scenario was also pretty "chaotic."

Going just a bit further back, no arrests for UDD attacks in Udon Thani also and a slurry of other UDD-organized occurences leads one to believe that the UDD transgressions have also been similarly overlooked by the law enforcement authorities.

Edited December 16, 2008 by sriracha john

[erobando]

Data can be used to draw conclusions about long-term effects of the airport closure.

For example, one could look at monthly trends in tourism number for the year before and after.

Then compare these trends to tourism numbers in other countries in the region.

If the numbers for Thailand dropped significantly more than other countries, one could then make the conclusion that the increased drop is not to the global economy.

srirachi john is simply proposing that we look at data before making conclusions about how X effected Y. This seems reasonable to me.

Data can be collected to estimate the long term effect if any is a direct result of the airport closer, but no one was arguing long term effects. The statements were made that the HUGE drop in tourism after the airport closer was a result of the closer.

Long term effect remains to be seen, but nobody was talking about long term effects in this post. People were talking about this high season NOW and a few months in the future. Nobody was talking 6+ months.

Long-Term Effects = Important

One-Off Occurance with No Long-Term Effect = Meaningless

[erobando]

It is all good news. The worlds media has called Abhisit and his cronies for what they are. Un-elected, un-democratic, manipulative, fascists.

The World owns a media now?

[puaa]

Abhisit or is it Opposite? Is this his name or his political philosophy?

[grandpops]

It is all good news. The worlds media has called Abhisit and his cronies for what they are. Un-elected, un-democratic, manipulative, fascists.

The World owns a media now?

The media of the world. It would have been World's media to mean what you think. It's called an Apostrophe and it's something you learn about in SCHOOLS!

Better you stick to ASTV, its still cosy and snug in there. No reference to the idiot democrat today who stated "The people of the north East are the servants of Bangkok people"

Yes, better stick to making facile and wrong posts if I were you. Or get out and read more.

[erobando]

It is all good news. The worlds media has called Abhisit and his cronies for what they are. Un-elected, un-democratic, manipulative, fascists.

The World owns a media now?

The media of the world. It would have been World's media to mean what you think. It's called an Apostrophe and it's something you learn about in SCHOOLS!

Better you stick to ASTV, its still cosy and snug in there. No reference to the idiot democrat today who stated "The people of the north East are the servants of Bangkok people"

Yes, better stick to making facile and wrong posts if I were you. Or get out and read more.

Uh, ok.

My post was more of a comment on how you're lumping all of the world's media together, as if they responded en masse to the recent developments in Thailand.

Why are you so touchy? You should relax, everything will OK.

[Koo82]

The worlds media has called Abhisit and his cronies for what they are. Un-elected, un-democratic, manipulative, fascists.

Abhisit clearly is the Army/PAD puppet and its only a few of the PAD tag team on here that seem to see it differently.

Shouldn't the thread title be "Abhisit eventually put into power by Army"

And the poor guy received a warm welcome yesterday

Wait a bit and the title might have some words like "disqualified" and "dissolution"

[animatic]

This has all been a Black Swan, and statistically meaningless in the long run.

And statistically un-predictable in advance.

it was unexpected and the knock-on affects will be equaly un-expected.

The Dems forming a government are one of these knock-on affects.

I think the incoming economic mess

and the clear ineptitutde of the PPP parties attempts at governance,

caused the abandonment of their side in anticipation of

REALLY hard times to weather shortly.

So... either the red shirts can make a hash of it, or the country can

try to get back on it's feet through a hail storm of external crap.

Regardless of your feelings on WHY we now have this government,

it is in EVERYONES best interests to let them work on the cascading

problems bombarding the country right now.

Regardless of if this was an predicable situation, it needs to be let work.

[Thai at Heart]

This has all been a Black Swan, and statistically meaningless in the long run.

And statistically un-predictable in advance.

it was unexpected and the knock-on affects will be equaly un-expected.

The Dems forming a government are one of these knock-on affects.

I think the incoming economic mess

and the clear ineptitutde of the PPP parties attempts at governance,

caused the abandonment of their side in anticipation of

REALLY hard times to weather shortly.

So... either the red shirts can make a hash of it, or the country can

try to get back on it's feet through a hail storm of external crap.

Regardless of your feelings on WHY we now have this government,

it is in EVERYONES best interests to let them work on the cascading

problems bombarding the country right now.

Regardless of if this was an predicable situation, it needs to be let work.

The unfortunate thing is that in typical Keystone cop comedy, Thailand has decided to clean its dirty laundry precisely when the country needs political stability for it's economic short term future.

Abhisit and the PAD will be tarred with the all the coming economic problems of the country.

From a purely economic perspective, it would be interesting to take a poll about who people believe might have been the best person to steer Thailand through this coming world economic problem.

Edited December 16, 2008 by Thai at Heart

[h90]

It is all good news. The worlds media has called Abhisit and his cronies for what they are. Un-elected, un-democratic, manipulative, fascists.

The World owns a media now?

The media of the world. It would have been World's media to mean what you think. It's called an Apostrophe and it's something you learn about in SCHOOLS!

Better you stick to ASTV, its still cosy and snug in there. No reference to the idiot democrat today who stated "The people of the north East are the servants of Bangkok people"

Yes, better stick to making facile and wrong posts if I were you. Or get out and read more.

link for that??? or just your dream?

[bangkokrick]

"The people of the north East are the servants of Bangkok people"

In my experience I think that this statement is absolutely correct. The Bangkok business owners make money from farmers in the North East. The people in the North East constitute the biggest rice exporter in the world. (Who makes the profit)? Most of the people doing unskilled work in Bangkok are from the North East.

Where is the problem in that statement?

Cheers, Rick

[henryalleman]

Those in the tourism industry would disagree. The plunge in tourism is directly attributable to the airport fiasco.

That's what the people I know that work in the tourism industry say. They say they were fine, then the PAD overtook the airport and people canceled trips not all of them, but there have been almost no new bookings since the airport closer. There was new bookings before the closer, but new bookings stopped coming in once the closer happened.

Normaly I always buy V seats but they are almost not available in any airline till end of february beginning of march

If so, why are almost all flights from Amsterdam, Brussels, Zurich and so on, to Bangkok are almost full booked till april.

You caught me I was lying.... Give me a break, I can find flights no problem just checked. Also how many flights a week before the airport closer and how many flights a week after the airport closer... Less flights (means some full flights), but still less people.

[andyIslandMan]

"The people of the north East are the servants of Bangkok people"

A different take on this North East connection stuff....

On the North East ENGLAND news (UK) I have just found out the new Thai PM was born in the Newcastle Upon Tyne and is a Newcastle United Supporter so effectively he IS a servant of the North East (Geordie) public

Hope it all goes well for everyone in Thailand under the new PM and hope to get back over to Thailand someday soon but until then will be on Thai Visa every once in a while.

[animatic]

"The people of the north East are the servants of Bangkok people"

In my experience I think that this statement is absolutely correct. The Bangkok business owners make money from farmers in the North East. The people in the North East constitute the biggest rice exporter in the world. (Who makes the profit)? Most of the people doing unskilled work in Bangkok are from the North East.

Where is the problem in that statement?

Cheers, Rick

Can say the same about your average worker in middle America vs NY

or other major city players in much the same way.

Those that create jobs employ those that need them.

Cities attract those that create jobs and by extension

the distribution networks to deliver products

AND many of those wanting jobs.

Worked much the same in any social system left or right,

no matter what political patina was overlaid..

[brahmburgers]

Yes, it appears Abhisit has friends in the military brass - and has friends of less than sterling character (who in Thai politics is not tainted?) - yet give the guy a chance to see what he can achieve.

Thailand has had several PM's recently - none of which could govern worth a dam_n. Abhisit can't do worse, and may wind up doing considerably better for the country as a whole.

I also agree that Thailand needs to brace for some jolts - continued \economic downturn, fewer tourists, and festering problems - all of which were seeded prior to Abhisit coming to the PM's chair. Similar to Thaksin's first year as PM, which showed luster carried over from Chuan administration's sensible policies, we'll likely see Abhisit's first year carry stains from his predecessors' failed or non-existent policies.

[sriracha john]

Pro-Thaksin Shinawatra supporters hurl stones at Thai legislators as they leave Parliament Monday.

Associated Press

Members of the UDD hurl stones and bricks at a sedan driven by a Democrat MP for Bangkok Thana Theerawanich as he leaves the parliament grounds.

Bangkok Post

====================================================================

Red Shirts being mobilised for siege

Right from day one, the Democrat-led government faces a major obstacle to running the country, with thousands of pro-Thaksin "red-shirt" protesters being mobilised from 11 provinces in the North.

Supporters of PTP are en route to Bangkok to lay siege to Parliament in a bid to stop the Abhisit government from announcing its policies - the same ordeal that the Somchai government went through with the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) in October.

Petcharawat Wattapong-sirikul, Chairman of the Rak Chiang Mai 51, the red-shirt group that supports ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, decided to send protesters to Bangkok on a daily basis to rally against the Democrats' government.

Some reportedly left their homes yesterday to join the rally in Sanam Luang. Meanwhile, the red-shirt group in Ubon Ratchathani has called for an "uprising" of Isaan people against MPs who betrayed Thaksin to rally against the new government.

Theerapat Watcharapol, a radio anchorman led 500 protesters to rally on the streets of Ubon yesterday, damning the MPs who defected from PTP to the Democrats coalition as traitors. They accused the MPs of being selfish and betraying poor people who voted for them. The protesters gathered outside the house of Withoon Nambutr in Muang district and burnt an effigy of the MP.

Ubon Ratchathani Governor Chuan Sirinanporn urged people not to join Theerapat's movement, saying the country stood to loose if the people were divided.

Former Government Spokesman Nattawut Saikua, a leader of the DAAD, said the group would join red shirts across the country to protest against the new government, but his group would resort to peaceful and legal ways to do it. "We will not lay siege to Parliament to prevent the House meeting," he said.

He defended the red shirts who blocked MPs from leaving Parliament yesterday, and destroyed cars and injured some politicians after voting for the new PM, saying no leaders ordered the mob to behave that way, but they were angry.

Charan Distaapicha, a leader of the DAAD, said the group would organise rallies at Sanam Luang to protest against the change of government, which he said had been done unfairly with outside influence. The group would pressure the new government to amend the Constitution and take legal action against the PAD for its illegal occupation of Government House and closing the country's two main airports. He said the DAAD would not resort to violence in it protests, claiming violence occurred on Monday because the red-shirts did not have leaders to control them.

He believed Prime Minister-elect Abhisit Vejjajiva would not survive the political storm and his government would be short-lived because he faced political pressure from both the PAD and the DAAD. He said the PAD made 13 demands the new government must meet and the DAAD had two. "This will show that the change of political camps will not solve the crisis facing the country," he said.

- The Nation / 2008-12-17

Edited December 16, 2008 by sriracha john

[henryalleman]

So north is doing worse.

Anecdotally.

Friends reporting that Chiangmai is very quiet. One close friend who is an owner of a well known, long established bar in Chiangmai tells me takings and business are well down on last year. Golf courses are much less populated by the yearly influx of Japanese and Korean groups. Tee off times freely available at most.

Seeing as the Japanese bar street close to work is pretty much dead, the question begs me...is it mainly Asian tourists that have canceled their trips and won't be coming next year or is it equal amount of westeners? My purely anecdotal note is that my western friends all have booked in advance and are going unless the flights stop. They have planned their vacation many months in advance and refuse to give up their dreams of vacations far away from snow and cold.

They have a far greater understanding and fear of civil unrest than westerners. I would bet that the vast majority of Chinese and Korean tourists will have cancelled. Some Japanese will probably have cancelled but they have a far longer history of travelling to Thailand.

I had 2 Chinese friends staying with me during the airport blockade. We had Chinese mothers on the phone every day warning them to get back to Beijing as the mothers had lived through the Cultural Revolution and didn't want them to get caught up in anything similar. I must say it gave the situation a little bizarre twist.

I would say that the Asians have a greater fear of what they see as large social movements and destabilisation.

They are probably more aware of the multi faceted power games that go on and how they can have unexpected outcomes.

That can be correct, we as Europeans are familiar with all kind of demonstrations, of labour unions, blocking airports, strikes of airport staff, even strikes who blocking the 2 major ports Rotterdam and Antwerp. We saw demonstrations of then thousands of people in France, Spain, Italy and other Greece's. For us Europeans a closing of an airport is a temporary discomfort, and most of the tourist came back all told us so. And by my knowledge nobody is cancelling his holiday in Thailand for that.

If Europeans stay away from Thailand is because they are not sure they will still have a job next.

year. several steal factories, car plants are closing temporary, The building industry is going down by 20 and 30%. The order books for the second half of 2010 are empty. BASF in Antwerp is closing down 57 production units. Chemical plants suffer immensely from the recession. People lost a lot of value on their shares because the financial meltdown. For the first time in years the prices of food and energy are going down.

Also the tourist industry in Europa expect a very weak 2009 and 2010. City trips are dropped with 50%. People will spend the Holiday's in nearby very cheap countries like Turky and Egypt.

China is closing 1000's of factories, hundred thousand's of workers are send back home upcountry.

The Chinese government is afraid that this could lead to turmoil and demonstrations.

Japan Korea are in economical problems.

BTW 20years ago I visited Hua Hin I saw many brand new mega hotels completely empty, I stayed in an hotel in Bang Saen 180 rooms we where the only guests. I stayed in an hotel in Korat we have been the only guest in the restaurant. This was 1991 and 1993. That moment my wife told me that there was a saying in Thailand.

" if you like to loose your money build an hotel"

Thai Tourism had is boom, and must accept this boom is over and the decline is unavoidable. The reasons why is for another topic.

So blaming the current political situation or PAD for the downfall in tourism is simply not correct.

I always wonder where the ranting people of the democrats live, which province and which village. because I chat today with some friends in Udon and Isan and they told me that Abhisit could be the start of an new era in Thailand. In my home town there are many people from Isan and the majority are no supporter of the red at all.

They just want that there is an government who is not corrupt and put their hands on the helm and start to work. And all agree that the Democrats have a good clean reputation, mostly formed by there opinion about Chuan, and they believe because Abhisit is coming from a good family with high moral standards he will not be involved in corruption.

Of course this an personal opinion and you are always free to disagree.

[henryalleman]

Thank you, h90 - I'm well aware of the terrible events that occurred on 7 October. To save going through all that to-and-fro debate yet again, would you be happy with "99% carte blanche" ? The events of one day - or even several days to which you and others might like to refer - don't take away from the point that PAD were largely/generally/mostly (any of those better for you?) left to their own devices by Thai police and army.

Hi

Yes, they were. Specifically AFTER that horrible tear-gas-fiasco, where the authorities simply wanted to avoid a repeat of the situation.

And, and this is very important, because the "yellows" were *for the most part* peaceful, not destroying property or attacking people (which, sadly, later in the process and after multiple grenades and other assorted attacks on THEM turned more and more violent from their side, too, STILL reasonable compared to the "others"!) while the "reds" take to arms right from the start, as clearly visible - sidewalk plaster against car windows, the intend is clear - kill or badly hurt whoever is behind the window of that car.

I bet the "reds" have done more actual property damage since Abhisit was elected than the "yellows" during their entire campaign.

Best regards....

Thanh

I second what Thanh-BKK wrote!

And I've to admit that I'm unable to understand the Pro-Thaksinnist's!

Now Thailand has a democratic PM, one everybody was calling for and that isn't what they really want.

The question which came up is: What youy really want?

Reading all that post's here, special those from Pro-Thaksinnist's, it seems to be that you guy's really don't know what you want?! Or let say with other words: You Pro-Thaksinnist's want a convicted criminal back on power who's first intention at all is his own benefit! Who's telling other's to follow the law, which on the other hand he deny for himself! Who's is pushing and for sure financing a bunch of other's to break existing law's: the Red's! And and and!

I don't think that everything what the PAD has done is right, for sure not! But The PAD has shown that they stand to them word, something what you can't tell from Mr. Thaksin and his followers!

Start to think about why the NCCC (National Counter Corruption Comission) has to handle more than 200,000 case of Corruption, from which the most from the last 3-4 years (about 80% of those) and most of that against Thaksin and his group of followers?!

It is really more than hard to understand you guy's that you still want that guy back and even try to excuse him!

maybe if we now where they live and their background could give us some information necessary to understand them.

[Wiresok]

I think that Abhisits biggest problem will be his own sense of right and wrong.

This because he is an educated man from a true western democracy.

Deep down inside he will know that he is basically a phoney.

He will know that he wasn't put in power as a result of free and fair elections by the people.

He will know he has no mandate from the people to govern, only a mandate from the military and elite via a coup.

And because he was educated in a western democracy he knows those same western democracies also know he's a phoney.

I think this will pray on him and he will do the right and proper thing and hold elections to try to legitimise his premiership.

[henryalleman]

"The people of the north East are the servants of Bangkok people"

In my experience I think that this statement is absolutely correct. The Bangkok business owners make money from farmers in the North East. The people in the North East constitute the biggest rice exporter in the world. (Who makes the profit)? Most of the people doing unskilled work in Bangkok are from the North East

Where is the problem in that statement?

Cheers, Rick

Don't forget the Burmese fugitives who work for small building contractors , there living conditions are horrible and they are havely underpaid and their employers are?............ yes people from Isan.

I saw their living conditions in Buan Ba Thong.Simply horrible.

[erobando]

I think that Abhisits biggest problem will be his own sense of right and wrong.

This because he is an educated man from a true western democracy.

Deep down inside he will know that he is basically a phoney.

He will know that he wasn't put in power as a result of free and fair elections by the people.

He will know he has no mandate from the people to govern, only a mandate from the military and elite via a coup.

And because he was educated in a western democracy he knows those same western democracies also know he's a phoney.

I think this will pray on him and he will do the right and proper thing and hold elections to try to legitimise his premiership.

He's won his MP seat numerous times already.

He wouldn't lose it with new elections.

[erobando]

"The people of the north East are the servants of Bangkok people"

In my experience I think that this statement is absolutely correct. The Bangkok business owners make money from farmers in the North East. The people in the North East constitute the biggest rice exporter in the world. (Who makes the profit)? Most of the people doing unskilled work in Bangkok are from the North East.

Where is the problem in that statement?

Cheers, Rick

Can say the same about your average worker in middle America vs NY

or other major city players in much the same way.

Those that create jobs employ those that need them.

Cities attract those that create jobs and by extension

the distribution networks to deliver products

AND many of those wanting jobs.

Worked much the same in any social system left or right,

no matter what political patina was overlaid..

This is poor quote, I don't think it can spun in a positive light.

At best, maybe it was a poor translation into English.

In developed countries, wealth is more spread out and there more locations of business centers.

Plus more opportunities for economic advancement.

[Ulysses G.]

So blaming the current political situation or PAD for the downfall in tourism is simply not correct.

High season had already started off fairly well before the idiots took over the airport and ruined it. Things have not bounced back. The PAD and their supporters and apologists are directly responsible!

Edited December 17, 2008 by Ulysses G.

[Plus]

Deep down inside he will know that he is basically a phoney.

He will know that he wasn't put in power as a result of free and fair elections by the people.

He will know he has no mandate from the people to govern, only a mandate from the military and elite via a coup.

Neither Samak nor Somchai had people's mandate either.

Have you seen the news about mass walkouts when Samak took stage in Isan during last election campaign? He was accepted only as Thaksin's choice, not as a leader, personally.

No one asked people if they wanted Somchai as a PM during Samak-Somchai tussle, and no one asked about Pracha, for that matter - it was all in House bargaining and but those rules Abhisit won fair and square.

Support for the new government is very wide spread, I'm afraid only a few thousand of clueless red vehemntly oppose him, for no particular reason. Everybody else wants a new direction for the country - army, elites, politicians, business leaders. As for people - 63% didn't vote for PPP, and so their representatives have finally decided not to support PPP, which is a natural and democratic thing to do. The only "traitors" are members of Newin faction, they haven't been elected to support Democrat led government. Still, these voters were part of a minority 37% PPP supporters.

Basically, it's not correct to say that Abhisit doesn't have a popular mandate if you judge it by last election results.

New polls would settle the issue once and for all, but I think the overall mood is that it's better for the country at the moment that Abhisit should be given a chance to govern rather than going into another election campaign.

New elections means three-four months of time waste, then the new govt start constitution amendments, and before the year is over, another elections are called.

Abhisit should start const rewrite now and call for elections and a fresh mandate when it's finished, towards the end of next year, on the same schedule. Dissolving the house now would serve no useful purpose at all.

[Journalist]

Abhisit faces a lose/lose situation with North East Thailand

If he doesn't help them to become upwardly mobile and migrate economically into the middle class he gets criticised

If he does help them - then he kills the Thai tourist industry.

[sriracha john]

Investigation on red-shirted group rally yesterday is underway

Acting Royal Thai Polices Commissioner-General has delegated Police Lieutenant-General Panupong Singhara Na Ayutthaya to investigate the red-shirted group’s rally yesterday which led to injuries among many innocent people.

Police Lieutenant-General Pongtat Pongcharoen, Royal Thai Police Deputy Commissioner-General, revealed today that the Acting Royal Thai Police Commissioner-General had entrusted Police Lieutenant-General Panupong Singhara Na Ayutthaya, also acting as Royal Thai Police Deputy Commissioner-General, to investigate the red-shirted group’s rally at the Parliament compound yesterday.

Those who were physically injured by the rally had decided to file complaints, requesting the authorities bring the culprits to justice.

Police Lieutenant-General Panupong has been instructed to tighten security measures in dealing with possible violent confrontations between different protesting groups. Meanwhile, police officials were also put in place at various key political figures’ private residences and required to report on any disturbances back to the headquarters immediately.

- ThaiNews / 2008-12-16

[henryalleman]

So blaming the current political situation or PAD for the downfall in tourism is simply not correct.

High season had already started off fairly well before the idiots took over the airport and ruined it. Things have not bounced back. The PAD and their supporters and apologists are directly responsible!

you just edited all my arguments that proved the PAD is not responsible for the downfall of tourism. You not even contradict even one of them, you did this just keep to your blindfold on, so you can go on ranting.